Why DID DxL become POR??

[halfway there]

Anyone have an official explanation for the name change at this resort? Or even an interesting guess? I'm curious.
We stayed at POFQ when it was just PO and I thought the whole idea was that this resort was modeled after New Orleans and DxL was themed after other parts of the Old South. Both names seem to fit perfectly.
Have there been changes made to DxL/POR to make it more like N'awlins? Most importantly, can you still get stuff with the DxL logo on it? We collect magnets.
I know some are loyal patrons of this resort and still refer to it as DxL. I wish I could say I was part of this club but we won't have our initiation until October!

 

[Disneygrl75]

I happened to ask a CM why the name was changed during our 2001 trip (the first we took after the name change). He told me it was because Disney had gotten a lot of flak from certain groups about the "negative racial associations" with the name Dixie and the whole concept of the deep south. I'm sure this is not the "official" explanation that Disney gives, but it's what I was told.

Colleen

 

[halfway there]

Hmmmm...Interesting Disneygrl75. I thought it might have something to do with that. I read somewhere that the pool area - Ol' Man Island - is themed after the movie The Song of the South and we know what kind of controversy that has sparked.

Anyone else care to venture a guess?

 

[safetymom]

http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID140060.asp

If you do a search on the net you can find others discussing this issue. I think it is probably a little of both.

 

[brentalex]

We stayed there right after the name was changed in 2001 and we heard the same story about the name change, bad vibes over the Dixie Landings name. The resort itself has remained as it was, no attempt to turn it to a N.Orleans style. But even though we were there a short time after the change, there was nothing left with the name Dixie Landings. The refillable mugs all said Port orleans, no magnets, nothing. If you didn't know it had once been called Dixie Landings, you would never have known. we were very disappointed because we were hoping to get something with the old name, but all I have is the confirmation letter because that was the name when the reservations were made.

 

[halfway there]

That is too bad!

Thanks for the link safetymom! A lot to look at there!!

Amazing that after like, 10 years, they do away with the very existence of DxL practically overnite! And the idea of trying to consolidate it into one resort makes no sense to me. It was already twice the size of PO! What advantage is there to that? Seems like it just makes things more confusing with such similar names but two very distinct resorts!

Any other comments? Love to hear 'em!

 

[safetymom]

I thought when it was themed as Dixie Landings it was great. It is not bad now but the attention to the little details was wonderful as Dixie. We stayed in the AB section in the old and new resort. It is a shame they changed the name but if it truly because it brought up negative images maybe it is a good thing that they changed it. Although knowing Disney they could of thought of a way to instruct and tell a story and educate us all.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by brentalex
But even though we were there a short time after the change, there was nothing left with the name Dixie Landings. The refillable mugs all said Port orleans, no magnets, nothing.

There are still about 10 buses that say "DIXIE LANDINGS" instead of Riverside. We're in the process of upgrading our buses with new orange LED destination signs. They come pre-programmed from the factory, and use a programming from prior to the resort change. They will say "Dixie Landings" until someone realizes, and re-programs it. (This can take months *sigh*)

 

[betterlatethannever]

The name still lives on.

When we checked into the AKL this May, we got a list of all our PSs we had asked them to make. The letter had a section for comments (along with the usual time and conf #). For Boatwrights, the letter said it was located in Dixie Landings.

Ed

 

[BadgerBruce]

halfway there-not an answer to your name question, but I've found a great place to find old items is on ebay. We collect license plates of the various resorts & attractions & have found some great older souvenirs this way (including a great Dixie Landings plate). Our first 3 stays on property were at DXL & it will always be Dixie to us!

 

[Bugeye]

It will always be Dixie Landings to us but regardless of the name, it is still the best kept secret among Disney Resorts. Once of the nicest.

Frank & Cathy

I]We may not always be right, but we're never in doubt![/I]

 

[EpcotBill]

When we were there this August some of the housekeeping carts still had Dixie Landings on them.

 

[halfway there]

Pretty Cool!

I will have to take some pics of those buses if they're still behind the times in Oct! Here I thought they were the last vestige of DxL left and now there's stuff on ebay, a PS printout (neat!) and housekeeping carts! I'll have to get a picture of them too. Maybe I'll make my own magnet?!?

I'm really looking forward to seeing this resort for the first time!!
Of all the places on property the only two I haven't so much as laid eyes on are POR and WL. I'll cross both off my list in the next two months. Interesting that they both are favorites among the DIS members.

 

[Jillpie]

Check out my signature . I hate that they changed the name too! I have a Dixie Landings magnet on my fridge right now! and love it. I also have my three boys caracature done with the DxL logo at the bottom. I have three Dxl mugs, that are a great souvenir. But the best thing that I have is the Dixie Landings pin that I will always treasure. I love that place. But now that we have become DVC members, our new home will be the Beach Club Villas. We talked about maybe going over there to their lounge for a fun night though. I'll miss it.

 

[disdanmom]

When we were there for 10 days in April of 01 all paperwork when we checked in still said Dixie Landings and when we checked out everything was POR.
The gift shops had merchandise available with either names. We decided to stick with Dixie Landings souveniers being the last time we could stay there under that name. I still have 5 refillable mugs with Dixie Landings on them.

 

[halfway there]

Any extra magnets, Jillpie ordisdanmon?? J/K

That's great that y'all have so many souveniers with the old name being that you're such loyal fans and all. I'm mourning the fact that I won't be able to get anything and I haven't even stayed there yet!

So, they must have made the switch in April '01 then if the paperwork changed during your visit, eh disdanmom? Did you know the name was changing or was it already called POR when you checked in? That would be weird! I'd be like "where am I?"
Anyone know when it was built? Did PO & DxL open at the same time?

 

[Jillpie]

LOL! No, sorry no extra magnets! Believe me, I protect the one that I have from my yellow lab all the time!! I like magnets too, nice and cheap but a great thing to look at every day. Its funny when I bought it, I never thought it would sort of be a keepsake. You will love this resort, its soooo pretty.

 

[disdanmom]

Sorry no extra magnets. I agree with Jillpie the resort is wonderful. The food court and Boatwrights are great. You must take time to go to the piano bar one night. the piano player gets everyone singing. I did not know the resort was changing names. I do make my reservations at least a year ahead of time and it was not mentioned at that time. We actually checked in on one of the last days of March through the first week of April. We got in late on a Saturday and was told we would be one of the last people checking in to the Dixie Landings. It was actually kind of neat.

 

[Jillpie]

Hey Disdanmom, I just noticed that you're from Barrington. I went to Barrington College back in 1980!! When it was called that, that is. It was the funnest and best two years of my life. I graduated from there and moved on to R.I. College, when the hard studying started. Anyway, its a small world!

 

[HunnyBunny]

Well, to answer a couple of questions on this topic... I have to agree that I don't understand the negative connotations with "Dixie", now if they were flying the rebel flag everywhere!! that might be different.
I do believe that PO & DL were built right around the same time, but maybe opened a year apart? My memory's sketchy on that one.
As far as making changes to make DL more "n'awlins" New Orleans does have two very distinct sections. One is the French Quarter and the other is the Garden District that is filled with a lot of what we'd consider the "old south" antebellum mansions. So, technically, Dixie Landings can change to Port Orleans Riverside and still fit without making any changes. Of course, you'd think they'd have realized all this 10+ years ago when they named the resort in the first place. Have we suddenly all become more politically correct in the last 10 years?
jmho.
Tonya